Hello, Monday.
We can greet Monday so differently. Some of us put feet to floor, excited about what the day holds and the possibilities for the week. Some of us pull covers tight, opening eyes to a day of hard we never wanted or possibilities that don’t seem there for us.
But there’s something you need to know about Monday. It’s not how we start our week. Our week starts on SUNDAY. That’s the first day of the week — not Monday — and that’s good news because Sunday can always be a day of worship and the Word.
And Monday? It’s the second day; a day that flows from all that God has poured into us and all that we’ve laid on the altar on the first day of the week.
I’m starting a new devotion series on the blog every Monday called Hello, Monday to help us with the second day of the week. So that our feet can hit the floor with truth and anticipation of all that God has for us. I’ll be posting on Instagram with the hashtag #hellohappymondays and I’d love for you to join me with your own happy Monday posts. (Hat tip to my son Zachary for coming up with our own hashtag. 🙂 )
On this first Hello, Monday, we look at the compassionate words of Christ in Luke 22.
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And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail . . .” Luke 22:31-32
Have you discovered that in the midst of a trial or hard place, Satan is working overtime? God uses trials and difficulty to teach us and reveal Himself in ways we’d never know on the easy days. They are costly lessons . . . but priceless.
Satan has an agenda as well. He would love nothing more than to use the trials and the hard of our life to kick us while we are down. To finish off our faith.
Right when we’re using up every bit of energy battling deep emotions or pushing through with another step forward, Satan sends blows of fear and despair and hopelessness. He paints our life so dark that we’re apt to just curl up in a ball, paralyzed by life.
But we have a Savior who fights for us. Before you were even conceived, before this hard place ever came, Jesus knew about this battle. And He has already interceded for you.
In Luke 22, Jesus was facing his arrest and crucifixion and was preparing his disciples to stand firm in the coming hard days.
As Jesus was arrested and all hope seemed abandoned, Satan had asked to crush Peter as you would crush new wheat. Ever the opportunist, Satan would sift Peter as wheat to try and snuff out his faith.
“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.”
Let those words fall like the compassionate security they are.
Before Satan ever laid his first blow, Jesus had gone before and interceded for Peter. The prayers of Christ stood between Satan and Peter. They buffered Satan’s agenda.
Peter may have FELT alone, frightened, grieved and despondent but the TRUTH is that every bit of Satan’s sifting was blanketed by the powerful prayer of Jesus.
And Christ’s prayer was not a wish. It was not a cross-your-fingers hope that Peter would make it. The prayers of Christ are always according to the will of God and will always be YES.
You may be feeling sifted and shaken. As if this trial or difficulty is not enough, you may be feeling the blows of Satan. Blows meant to cut short our faith and leave us wallowing in despair and hopelessness.
Jesus, your Advocate, has gone before you. Just as Jesus prayed for Peter, Jesus stands at the right hand of the Father always interceding for us against Satan.
We are never alone in the battle. Jesus’ prayers stand between us and whatever is on Satan’s agenda. They buffer us and are warm security that even though we have to walk through the trial and through the testing, our faith will not fail.
This is such a timely post for me, Lisa. I was one of those that dreaded putting me feet on the floor this morning, but with God by my side everything has gone well today. I was amazed when I read your sentence about Jesus praying for Simon that his faith would not fail. I have never thought about it like that before – I know Jesus is our intercessor, but I had never thought about it that way – that he prays for us. What a wonderful thought! The last two years have not been good for me – a lot of anxiety and depression, but this makes me feel better to know that I have Jesus praying for me. I know he loves me and always will. I am looking so forward to your new series. All of your posts are so encouraging and have really made me “think outside the box” sometimes.
Thank you for your comment, Darlene. God will lift our head every.single.time when we get in His Word and give Him our burdens.
Thank you for this .When I made my first step this morning I was so low but I know that God loves me and he is with me and then I know that he will see me thru with what I am going thru right now. Thank you again for this lesson.
Ruby, there’s a huge gap sometimes between what we feel and what is true. Blessings for the rest of your Monday!
This is exactly what we’ve been talking about with our children and trying to see with new eyes:that there’s a spiritual battle taking place (that you’re not wrestling with your brother, sister, daughter, son) and GREATER is HE that is in the believer than he-the enemy, the liar, the thief-that is in the world! Thank you, Father, for this timely word from our sister, Lisa!
It’s so true, Jen. We think our enemy is the broken water heater, our hubby or children but that is just shadowboxing. We need to know our true enemy for sure.
Wow! God’s faithfulness always blows my mind! I have struggled with discouragement today because I have been focusing on the wind and waves but, thankfully, I checked my inbox and Lisa’s message was there and was exactly what I needed at precisely the right time! God is so good! Thank you , Jesus, for praying for me. Lord bless you, Lisa ❤️
He is good. I’m so glad this blessed you, Maureen!
Great to be reminded of this Lisa and I am excited about your new series for Mondays! I loved your emphasis of how Jesus interceded for Peter before the first blow of Satan. . The sovereign restraint of our Savior against our enemy should bring us encouragement to persevere.
Isn’t it amazing that God gives us the behind-the-scenes look at how He works on our behalf? Thanks, Gretchen.
Battling deep emotions, that’s where I am today. And Jesus has already interceded for me, that my faith would not fail and that I would be firm in the battle. YAY! God is good, and knew I especially needed this reminder at 8.37pm THIS Monday!
Thank you for your timely reminder to be encouraged because our Savior is helping us persevere!
He is so, so good.
What a great word!! Thank you for a wonderful blessing once again!!
<3
I am thankful that Jesus intercede to the father. For me.and he is so good.and his love is unconditional. He love me through all my fault.
Lisa,
Thank you for putting your experience out there for others to be inspired. Today is the first anniversary of my husband’s death. We were married for 32 years. I am grateful for all the resources that have been available through the past year and your site has been a lifeline. I just wanted to let you know that you are helping so much. Truly. Thank you. In His love, Rebecca D.